//------------------------------// // Chapter Forty Five: Time for Answers // Story: Trixie and Maud: Heart of Stone // by TheCrimsonDM //------------------------------// HEART OF STONE Chapter Forty Five: Time for Answers Written by TheCrimsonDM It’s been a few days since Trixie officially moved into Ponyville, and she had finally found the time to visit Timequill. It was time for some answers. That’s why Trixie now stood in front of Timequill’s office door staring at the door handle. She wasn’t entirely sure that she was ready to learn about her father, especially considering that she had met him only after dying. Trixie took in a deep breath and grabbed the handle. She then walked in, bracing herself for whatever information she was going to learn. Timequill sat behind his desk reading a book. He glanced up at Trixie and smiled at her as she entered. “How are you doing, Trixie? Did you come to set up an appointment with me?” He asked kindly. “No, I actually came here with another purpose in mind…and I’ll need to consult with Maud before setting up our next appointment, it would only be right,” Trixie replied. Timequill looked at the gray ribbon tied around Trixie’s left foreleg, his smile increasing as he said, “I’m glad to see things are going well for you two.” Trixie couldn’t help but grin when she heard his words. Trixie quickly looked around making sure that she was alone in here before jumping into the air exclaiming, “We’re getting married!” Timequill kept his smile as he said, “That sounds wonderful. You deserve it, Trixie.” Trixie took a deep breath and calmed her heart before saying, “I have questions for you, Timequill…and I really need answers.” His smile faded a little as he said, “What’s on your mind?” “What happened to my father? And where is he now?” Trixie asked. Timequill’s expression hardened as he said, “I assume this means you learned about Celestia’s heroes.” At Trixie’s nod he continued, “I don’t know where Moonlight went, about twelve years ago he left, and after that nopony was able to find him. I tried to look for him myself for awhile, but was unable to find him, it was almost like he disappeared without a trace…but considering his skill set, it isn’t hard to imagine.” Trixie sat down and felt her hopes withering away as she asked, “So you really don’t know anything about where he ran off to?” “I’m sorry…if I did I would tell you,” Timequill said. “Before your father left, he told a select few of us to keep an eye on you. If we should ever meet you, we were to help you any way we could. Me, Kilic, and Gear Dasher…we vowed to help you out if we could.” “How come you never told me?” Trixie asked, she made sure to look Timequill in his green eyes. “You rarely talk about your father, it’s a sensitive topic for you, and I will always respect your space. It also didn’t help that you were in such rough shape when you first came to me, I didn’t want to upset you with anything shocking,” Timequill explained. He was quiet for a few seconds before he said, “You know, I’ve been waiting for a long time now…to have this conversation with you. I wasn’t keeping any secrets from you, I was only waiting until you were ready.” Trixie could understand why he didn’t tell her sooner. It probably would have done much more harm then good for her to learn about Timequill’s connection to her father any sooner. If it hadn’t been for Maud, and her friends…well she might not have been able to handle this yet. As it was though, she wanted to know more, and more wasn’t going to happen here. “I know, thank you for telling me…I just wish there was some way to find out what happened with him,” Trixie said somberly. “Morning Veil was the last one to see him, it turns out that when your father left, he asked Morning for his help in finding somepony. I don’t know any of the details, but Morning helped your dad, and then your dad was gone. You could try asking him if you ever meet him,” Timequill explained. Trixie forced as small smile as she looked at Timequill. Her hopes of learning anything now were destroyed, but maybe she could still learn something later on. Morning Veil, now that was a name that Trixie wasn’t going to forget anytime soon. Trixie stood up and said, “Thank you. I still got things to do today, but this was…something.” Trixie then turned around and left. *** An hour later Trixie sat in Twilight’s living room while the purple princess walked circles around her. Twilight’s horn was glowing softly as she used a spell to examine Trixie. Trixie had been sitting still for what was beginning to feel like an eternity until finally she had enough of this. “Twilight, are you just going to walk around in circles all day, or are you going to tell me what you found?” Trixie asked. Twilight stood still and her horn stopped glowing suddenly. “Trixie, I’m a little unsure of what exactly has happened to your body. It looks like you have had a lot of things happen that have transformed your magic into something very different. I theorize that your magic was originally hindered by your fight with the Ursa Major, and then the dark magics that were inside of me gave you access to magic that you shouldn’t be able to use…that nopony should be able to use. The destruction of the Black Pillar however must have been the final nail in your magic’s coffin. “That being said, your magic is actually beginning to return to normal…slowly. I believe that even though it might be hard at first, you can eventually relearn how to use some minor spells again. The higher level spells…those might take years to return…if it’s even possible for you to use them ever again,” Twilight finished lamely. There really weren’t words to describe just how low Trixie’s heart was sinking at the thought of never being able to use her big magic tricks ever again. The small amount of solace she could take in being able to use small spells with time just wasn’t enough when she remembered how much fun she had with illusions. Her dreams of being a magician again seemed very distant, more so than ever before. “Trixie, will you be okay?” Twilight asked gently as she looked at Trixie. Trixie forced a smile and said, “Yeah…I’ll be fine…” Twilight turned her attention to behind Trixie as her eyes grew wide for a second, before lowering into a scowl. Twilight then said in a low voice, “So…you’re getting pretty tall. I wonder why that’s happening.” Trixie turned around to see Spike walk into the room. He was at least a head taller then he had been last time Trixie had seen him. And that was just a few days ago. Spike now stood at the same height as Trixie’s chin. Spike looked a little nervous as he said, “I uh…I have no idea. Maybe I’m just growing up?” Trixie thought back to what little she actually knew about dragons. They were creatures of magic, rumored to grow to the size of small houses in a matter of a few years. Their minds were also supposed to be far older than their bodies could ever indicate. Dragons were strange magical creatures, and not native to Equestria. So Spike jumping in height could be a normal thing for as far as she knew, but then again nothing about dragons was normal. “If I find out that you are keeping another horde somewhere, I’m going to be very cross with you Spike,” Twilight threatened. Spike folded his arms and said, “Yeah, and if you keep me small forever, then Rarity will never treat me right.” “We are not having this argument again, especially not in front of Trixie,” Twilight said, ending with a stomp of her hoof. “You’re right, we aren’t,” Spike said before turning around and walking away. “I’m too old to be treated like this by you.” “That little,” Twilight growled under her breath as Spike left the room. Trixie felt the need to ask, “How old is he?” Twilight looked away from where Spike had left and said, “He is eleven years old, and he is getting on my nerves.” “Wait, Spike is eleven years old, and he is still that small?” Trixie gasped. “Yes, why? Is there something wrong?” Twilight asked. “Well yeah, from my knowledge on the subject, dragons are supposed to be very large by the time they are eleven,” Trixie explained. “Why is he still so small?” “Well…dragons get larger based on the size of their horde,” Twilight explained. “He must have a small horde then,” Trixie said. “Actually he doesn’t have a horde,” Twilight said pridefully. Trixie was quiet for a few moments before she finally said, “So what you’re saying is, that Spike the dragon doesn’t have a horde. The most basic need, and instinct of all dragons is a horde, and he doesn’t have one…and you think that it’s okay? Twilight, that’s like changing the nature of an animal because you didn’t like what it was eating. It’s horrible and wrong.” Twilight stared at Trixie with a dumbfounded look for a few minutes before finally saying, “Um…what if I already did that to an animal…twice?” Trixie face hoofed and said, “Twilight, just let him be. Maybe if he was a little bigger he could help out around the castle more…or something. I’m sure he hates being the small one and all.” Twilight sat down and said, “I’ll give him a chance, just one. You’re right, he needs to grow, I just wanted him to be…my, baby dragon…but…” “There is a time when every parent need’s to let go, Twilight. And I think that it’s about time you do that for Spike,” Trixie said trying to comfort her friend. Twilight looked into Trixie’s eyes, and Trixie could see the sadness in them. “Will he still be mine?” “He will always be yours. You’re his mother, Twilight, and he will always love you…but he needs to grow up too. Just like the rest of us,” Trixie said. Twilight wrapped her hooves around Trixie and embraced her. Trixie returned the hug and said in a gentle voice, “I’m here to talk to you if you need it.” “Thank you, Trixie,” Twilight said in a quiet voice.